Dear Reader,
I talk quite a bit about the downfalls of popular “plant-based” foods.
Somehow, big food manufacturers have tricked people into thinking these ultra-processed products are good for their health…and the planet.
But there’s ZERO scientific evidence to back up that claim.
On the contrary, a brand-new study shows that by eating MORE MEAT (not less—and certainly not “fake” meat), older men and women can:
- BOOST their longevity, and
- DECREASE their disease rates.
Of course, this is hardly news to me. But let’s take a closer look at the details…
Animal protein protects against aging and disease
For this new study, researchers followed more than 1,000 men and women, living independently in Tuscany, Italy. At the start of the study, their average age was 75 years.
Over the next 20 years, the researchers collected health and dietary information on the participants. Then, they assessed the association between plant and animal protein intake and mortality.
During the follow-up period, 811 men and women died. The most common causes of death were cardiovascular disease and cancer.
But when the researchers looked at the impact DIET had on those deaths, they found something profound…
It turns out, there was an “inverse association” between animal protein, all-cause mortality (death) rate, and cardiovascular disease mortality rate.
In other words, the MORE animal protein the participants consumed…the LOWER their risk of dying from ANY cause. (And the lower their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, specifically.)
So, not only did eating more meat NOT contribute to an early death…it actually PROTECTED them from suffering one! Whereas men and women who ate more plant-based protein did NOT receive these remarkable benefits.
Humans are naturally omnivores
In my view, there are three main reasons why these findings make sense…
First, humans evolved to be omnivorous. Which means we must consume a wide variety of whole foods—from plant and animal sources—to meet our nutritional needs.
Indeed, it’s ONLY by eating a balanced diet with these wholesome foods that you get all the healthy proteins, fats, and bioavailable vitamins and minerals your body needs. (It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to obtain all these nutrients from plant sources alone.)
Second, meat is a source of “complete protein.” Meaning it contains all the different amino acids that make up the proteins the human body requires.
Third, these plant-based products are really just ultra-processed, fake “foods” that contain as many as 15 to 19 ingredients. So, they’re really no healthier for you than other types of ultra-processed junk food.
In the end, my advice to you remains the same…
Strive to cut out ANY type of processed food from your diet—including popular “plant-based” Frankenfoods. You can achieve this goal by avoiding products that feature a long list of ingredients. (They’re typically found on the shelves at the interior of the grocery store.)
Instead, continue to give your body what it really wants and NEEDS by filling your plate with all the healthy, whole foods that belong in a Mediterranean-type diet. (You find these fresh foods along the perimeter of a grocery store—or from a local farmer’s market.)
Here’s a list of what to enjoy on this healthy, satisfying diet:
- Full-fat, whole-milk dairy, including butter, eggs, cheeses, and plain yogurt.
- Wild-caught fish and seafood.
- Grass-fed and -finished, free-range, organic beef, chicken, and especially lamb.
- Nuts and seeds.
- Five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day.
- Alcohol, in moderation.
For more dietary advice—and understanding what those buzzwords on food labels really mean, take a look at the September 2019 issue of my monthly newsletter, Insiders’ Cures (“Cage-free, grass-fed, organic…oh my!”). Subscribers have access to all of my content in the archives. So if you haven’t already, click here to sign up today!